Presenter cites BBC series as a big factor in the popularity of biology and physics By Daniel Boffey (Policy Editor)
He conquered the pop charts with 1990s band D:Ream, explained the intricacies of gravity to a confused nation and even appeared in a magazine list of the sexiest men alive. Now Professor Brian Cox, one of 5
the BBC’s star turns, has laid claim to a new achievement: inspiring a generation of children to take up biology, chemistry and physics in school.
In an interview in the Observer Magazine, 10
Cox – who has been a ubiquitous presence on the BBC in recent years – says he believes there can be little doubt that science on television has been a factor in an upward trend in the number of children taking up the 15
subjects at GCSE and A-levels1.
Cox said he believed that the series of science programmes, including his Wonders of the Solar System, aired during the BBC’s year of science in 2010, had had a major 20
impact.
In 2012, there was a 36.1% increase in the number of students doing GCSE science exams, compared with the previous year. Biology and chemistry were two of the three 25
A-level subjects, including ICT2, where attainment rates at A*/A3 rose in 2012. Cox,
45, who is currently filming a new show about man’s growing understanding of the universe, said: “It’s kind of obvious when 30
you think about it. A public service broadcaster in my view is part of the education system, as it does change behaviour.”
“I think the year of science did that. There 35
has been an upswing in the number of students applying to university to do scientific subjects. It’s difficult to say why, as there are many factors. It’s important to say that. But one of the factors is the 40
popularity of science on television. ” The presenter and academic, a graduate of Manchester University who is regarded by many as the BBC’s successor to David Attenborough, said the success of the 45
programmes in 2010 had also made it easier than ever to pitch science to channel controllers.
The Observer, 05.05.13
1. GCSE and A-levels: secondary school exams in the United Kingdom 2. ICT: Information and Communication Technology
exercices contrôles corrigés
37
4 L’idée de progrès résumé de cours exercices contrôles 14ANTEV1ME1 Page : 3/5 Document 2Brian Cox says TV shows inspire a new generation of
children to study science
Presenter cites BBC series as a big factor in the popularity of biology and physics By Daniel Boffey (Policy Editor)
He conquered the pop charts with 1990s band D:Ream, explained the intricacies of gravity to a confused nation and even appeared in a magazine list of the sexiest men alive. Now Professor Brian Cox, one of 5
the BBC’s star turns, has laid claim to a new achievement: inspiring a generation of children to take up biology, chemistry and physics in school.
In an interview in the Observer Magazine, 10
Cox – who has been a ubiquitous presence on the BBC in recent years – says he believes there can be little doubt that science on television has been a factor in an upward trend in the number of children taking up the 15
subjects at GCSE and A-levels1.
Cox said he believed that the series of science programmes, including his Wonders of the Solar System, aired during the BBC’s year of science in 2010, had had a major 20
impact.
In 2012, there was a 36.1% increase in the number of students doing GCSE science exams, compared with the previous year. Biology and chemistry were two of the three 25
A-level subjects, including ICT2, where attainment rates at A*/A3 rose in 2012. Cox,
45, who is currently filming a new show about man’s growing understanding of the universe, said: “It’s kind of obvious when 30
you think about it. A public service broadcaster in my view is part of the education system, as it does change behaviour.”
“I think the year of science did that. There 35
has been an upswing in the number of students applying to university to do scientific subjects. It’s difficult to say why, as there are many factors. It’s important to say that. But one of the factors is the 40
popularity of science on television. ” The presenter and academic, a graduate of Manchester University who is regarded by many as the BBC’s successor to David Attenborough, said the success of the 45
programmes in 2010 had also made it easier than ever to pitch science to channel controllers.
The Observer, 05.05.13
1. GCSE and A-levels: secondary school exams in the United Kingdom 2. ICT: Information and Communication Technology
NOTE AUX CANDIDATS
Les candidats traiteront le sujet sur la copie qui leur sera remise et veilleront à :
‐ respecter l’ordre des questions et reporter les repères sur la copie (lettre ou lettre et numéro). Exemples : A1 ou E
‐ faire toujours précéder les citations du numéro de la ligne ;
‐ dans les phrases à compléter, les réécrire intégralement sur la copie en soulignant l’élément introduit.
I. COMPRÉHENSION DE L’ÉCRIT
Documents 1 and 2
A. Choose the right answer.
Both documents are about 1) girls choosing scientific studies.
2) famous people promoting science.
3) criticising the entertainment industry.
Document 1
B. Match each element with the corresponding definition from the following list. Some definitions will not be used.
a scientist in a film – a media corporation – a competition – a film – a science laboratory – an actress – a film director
1) Thor: ……….
2) Ultimate Mentor Adventure: ……….. 3) Natalie Portman: ………….
4) Jane Foster: ………..
C. The people who enter the competition.
1) Who are they? Pick out the three necessary conditions to enter the competition. 2) What do they have to do? Complete the following summary with words from
Document 1 (one blank = one word).
To participate, the applicants must
a) fill in and send a ……….. on-line ;
b) make a ……….. which should contain information about the …………. they did with a famous ……….. who works in the domain of ………..
D. What is the prize of the competition? (2 elements).
Document 2
E. Copy the following table onto your paper and complete it.
NAME Brian Cox
AGE -
PLACE OF STUDY -
JOBS IN THREE DIFFERENT DOMAINS -
- -
F. Match and write out the appropriate dates with the sentences in the list below.
s a British pupils got better results in science exams.
b Brian Cox and his group of musicians had a hit.
c More pupils took science degrees.
d Brian Cox’s first show about our universe was broadcast.
e The national TV channel dedicated this year to science.
G. Pick out one sentence in the text for EACH statement showing that
1) according to Brian Cox, TV has an obligation to help people to learn. 2) Brian Cox thinks there will be more science on TV in the future.
H. Complete the sentence by using one of the following adjectives.
complicated – useful – unprofitable –elitist
As a conclusion, we can say that science programmes are ………..
Documents 1 and 2
I.The following sentences are right. Justify by quoting the text.
1) Natalie Portman thinks her action can transform girls’destinies. (Document 1)
2) Brian Cox thinks the media can transform the way people think and react. (Document 2)
II. EXPRESSION ÉCRITE
Choose ONE of the following subjects words minimum
A. Write about a television programme that you find particularly inspiring. Choose any domain :
arts, sports, travel, science, technology, cooking, etc.
OR
B. Here are the profiles of three successful scientists. You have interviewed ONE of them. Write
out the interview.
NAME: R. Rodriguez NAME: G. Knopf NAME: E. Sky JOB: Aerospace Engineer JOB: Professor of Biomedical
Science JOB: App developer for smartphones ADDRESS: Phoenix,
Arizona ADDRESS: Eagle, Idaho ADDRESS: Franklin, Georgia OTHER INFORMATION:
took a trip to Space Center in Houston at the age of ; years at International Space University in Strasbourg; fluent in French Japanese.
OTHER INFORMATION: High school dropout but ultimately got a PhD in physical chemistry; active in research in stem cell biology, diabetes, and blood vessel
OTHER INFORMATION: writes articles about video games for computer magazines and science fiction novels.
exercices contrôles corrigés
39
4 L’idée de progrès résumé de cours exercices contrôles 14ANTEV1ME1 Page : 4/5NOTE AUX CANDIDATS
Les candidats traiteront le sujet sur la copie qui leur sera remise et veilleront à :
‐ respecter l’ordre des questions et reporter les repères sur la copie (lettre ou lettre et numéro). Exemples : A1 ou E
‐ faire toujours précéder les citations du numéro de la ligne ;
‐ dans les phrases à compléter, les réécrire intégralement sur la copie en soulignant l’élément introduit.
I. COMPRÉHENSION DE L’ÉCRIT
Documents 1 and 2
A. Choose the right answer.
Both documents are about 1) girls choosing scientific studies.
2) famous people promoting science.
3) criticising the entertainment industry.
Document 1
B. Match each element with the corresponding definition from the following list. Some definitions will not be used.
a scientist in a film – a media corporation – a competition – a film – a science laboratory – an actress – a film director
1) Thor: ……….
2) Ultimate Mentor Adventure: ……….. 3) Natalie Portman: ………….
4) Jane Foster: ………..
C. The people who enter the competition.
1) Who are they? Pick out the three necessary conditions to enter the competition. 2) What do they have to do? Complete the following summary with words from
Document 1 (one blank = one word).
To participate, the applicants must
a) fill in and send a ……….. on-line ;
b) make a ……….. which should contain information about the …………. they did with a famous ……….. who works in the domain of ………..
D. What is the prize of the competition? (2 elements).
14ANTEV1ME1 Page : 5/5
Document 2
E. Copy the following table onto your paper and complete it.
NAME Brian Cox
AGE -
PLACE OF STUDY -
JOBS IN THREE DIFFERENT DOMAINS -
- -
F. Match and write out the appropriate dates with the sentences in the list below.
s a British pupils got better results in science exams.
b Brian Cox and his group of musicians had a hit.
c More pupils took science degrees.
d Brian Cox’s first show about our universe was broadcast.
e The national TV channel dedicated this year to science.
G. Pick out one sentence in the text for EACH statement showing that
1) according to Brian Cox, TV has an obligation to help people to learn. 2) Brian Cox thinks there will be more science on TV in the future.
H. Complete the sentence by using one of the following adjectives.
complicated – useful – unprofitable –elitist
As a conclusion, we can say that science programmes are ………..
Documents 1 and 2
I.The following sentences are right. Justify by quoting the text.
1) Natalie Portman thinks her action can transform girls’destinies. (Document 1)
2) Brian Cox thinks the media can transform the way people think and react. (Document 2)
II. EXPRESSION ÉCRITE
Choose ONE of the following subjects words minimum
A. Write about a television programme that you find particularly inspiring. Choose any domain :
arts, sports, travel, science, technology, cooking, etc.
OR
B. Here are the profiles of three successful scientists. You have interviewed ONE of them. Write
out the interview.
NAME: R. Rodriguez NAME: G. Knopf NAME: E. Sky JOB: Aerospace Engineer JOB: Professor of Biomedical
Science JOB: App developer for smartphones ADDRESS: Phoenix,
Arizona ADDRESS: Eagle, Idaho ADDRESS: Franklin, Georgia OTHER INFORMATION:
took a trip to Space Center in Houston at the age of ; years at International Space University in Strasbourg; fluent in French Japanese.
OTHER INFORMATION: High school dropout but ultimately got a PhD in physical chemistry; active in research in stem cell biology, diabetes, and blood vessel disease.
OTHER INFORMATION: writes articles about video games for computer magazines and science fiction novels.